The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1887-01-07

real, there was still left a very excel
! lent fellow, with good talents, which
he was using with rather brilliant eff
fectiyeness in journalism and various
kinds of literary work; who was ador-
ingly fond of his wife, and had not vet
recovered from his surprise at his ex-
cessive good fortune in possessing that
much-coveted treasure-for whom he
had commended, with many others, in
those anxious days Of courtship. And
nowhere she was at home, waiting
for him, while he was urgisg his brain
to the top of its speed, andYdriving his
quill in eager haste, thinking only of
what it would bring for him to lay at
her feet
Mildred was right in thinking he felt
anxious at times, for things did not al.
ways turn ont as he hoped. And he
oftentimes felt disheartened when he
thought that with the fullest measure
of success which he could achieve his
profession could never yield what so
| peerless a wife as Mildred deserved.
For, Of course, he had with his imagin-
alton retouched the real Mildred too,
The new purpose Of authorship brought
a great light and hope into Mildred :
life. She felt mportant-indeed, that
she was much more important than
people was aware. That she was car
rying very large sccret-that if John
only knewl
Then She pictured to herself his read
ing her story, possibly reviewing it.
After he has written all kinds of nice
things about it ! will tell him that [ am
the author; or-and her heart turned
cold and sick-what if he should
! say 1t was trash? For of course,
like other good critics, John was
seldom pleased. If things were all
excellent, what would be the need of
critics. So he had cultivated the art
! at discovering flaws in what seemed to
! ordinary readers pure gems. He had
developed rather talent for pillorying
people in single terse phrase, and was
much valued for his skill in beating
| down with the editorial club tender
/ young aspirants who were trying to
make themselves heard. This sounds
/ brutal But he was only professionally
/ brutal. In his personal characteristics
I AA'AAN AOtAiAl ilt AilOlt lGAlQCI OF SNl pa
thct:c. Mildred knew Of this caustic
vein and believed it, too-as she did al
so of Johns attributes and gifts
''but, she thought, ''if he should say
any of those dreadful things about me;
| what should 1 do? l should never
ncyer-tell HIM"
And so during the entire day she
! thought and planned. New intricacies
/ of plot suggesting themselves vivid
| and interesting scenes coming before
| her stimulated Imagination. Her
mother urged her remaining and send
/ ing for her husband to dine with them.
Her secret desire was to return, but she
/ looked at her mothers wistful face and
had not the heart to refuse. She would
stay and send for John.
That gentleman arrived at home at
the usual hour. AS he put his latchkey
into the door he smiled, thinking of the
quick ear which was listening for it,
and Of the pretty apparition which
would meet him in the hall. "By
Jove, - he thought, ''what a lucky fell
low 1 ami" But the expected figure
did not come to meet him. He was
conscious Of a little chill of disappoint-
ment, and still more as he wandered
through the rooms and found all silent
and deserted. He rang for the maid.
Where is your mistress?"
"She is out sir. There's q note, sir,
somewhere, aud she looked anxiously
about "Oh. it is on her desk" said
She, with returning memory, starting
to 90 for it.
mo matter, l viii get it" and John
turned his impatient steps toward his
wife room.
There was no note upon the desk,
and quite naturally he opened the lid.
His eyes were riycted upon the words
before him:
DEAR FRANK: 1 return herewith the letters
which have no longer any right to keep. I
need not tel you what it costs me
He felt as if his blood were turned
into ice.
Ihave reflected much upon what you said yes
terday-
''Yesterdayr'- felt as if he were
going mad. "Yesterdayr'- he had
so trusted heri The room had grown
black and great slcdge hammer was
beating in his brain, but he read on
upon what you said yesterday, but I am at
last resolved. win not see you again. Any
attempt to make me break this resolve win be
! fruitlcss. God knows that you have only your
self to blame that this marriage has
john stood for few moments as if
| turned into stone, his face blanched,
his muscles tense. Then a ray of hope
seemed to come to him. There is no
signature; it is not hers He looked
again. How could he doubt it? He
know too well the turn of every letter.
He was alternately livid with rage and
choking with grief. His dream of hap
pincss vsnished. Something like a
curse came from between his closed
teeth. ''She loves this man, and she
meets him and tells him so, and only
yesterday. Oh, it is too horrible! too
horrible!" He buried his face in his
hands and groaned. Il shall so away;
/ shall never" At that moment the
telephone bell rang. He took no notice
of it. Il shall never Again it rang
long and loud. What should he do?
There was no one else to answer il he
must go. So he said huskily, ''Hollon'
Mildred's silvery voice replied:
''Johu, is that you?'
The situation was shocking. How
could he reply?- but-there was no
time for reflection. He knew that the
central Office would share all his conf
dences through that internal pi<ee of
black walnut and ebony. So he said:
eyes"
'Why do YOU not come? Dinner is
waiting for you?"
How well he knew the pretty infex-